A Real Pain

Jesse Eisenberg has nothing to prove&#59; he has already staked his claim as an actor, writer, and director. But A Real Pain digs deeper than he ever has before—and it’s a really good movie


Eisenberg’s direction is perfect — and a perfect match for Culkin’s performance.

Holocaust humor is rare, but A Real Pain is a counterintuitive outlier: vivid, moving, funny and emotionally devastating.

(An) enormously satisfying, darkly-shaded road-trip comedy about family, faith and finding yourself.

The film has pain in its title. But it’s pleasure the viewer will feel once the credits roll at the end.

We’re taken on a trip with David and Benji, one that examines Jewish identity, generational trauma, siblinglike rivalry and the strangeness of being in a country you don’t recognize, but that’s nonetheless partly your own.

The film feels narratively affixed to traditional beats, but more intriguing in its smaller moments.

When considered merely escapist amusement, some comedies do not receive the credit they deserve for integrating serious commentary into an enjoyable film. For many fine comedies resonate with weighty subtexts, as Jesse Eisenberg proves in "A Real Pain."

Culkin and Eisenberg are stellar.

The real gem here is Kieran Culkin’s magnificent career-best performance. He displays a wide range of emotions while exuding empathy from the audience. Alongside Eisenberg, the two make a beautiful team.